Dilemma...flying in whY immediately after lots of F flights

[Fluid-Flyer]

BFOD (Jetstar "won")... When I pre-selected seats (on Tuesday) there was no access to anything in the first, say, 15 rows. Not even the centre seats. Both ways.

Entirely different story when the plane took off. Plane was reasonably full but way too many empty seats near the front of the plane to believe that they were no-shows/cancellations, etc.

Remember on JQ A320s only JetFlex ticket holders can pre-select rows 1,2,3,5 & exit rows at time of booking. Additionally, 1DEF can not be pre-selected online at anytime.

Plus, when you JQ OLCI on JetSaver/Light - the blocked rows do not open up for allocation, and continue to show as taken, even if they aren't.

 

[NM]

Tuesday, I was booked on the cheapest fare MEL to Hobart to travel yesterday. Our company has BFOD (Jetstar "won"). When I pre-selected seats (on Tuesday) there was no access to anything in the first, say, 15 rows. Not even the centre seats. Both ways.

For such a short flight, its possible they "blocked" the front section from OLCI for weight and balance purposes.

 

[Keith009]

Booked the following with BD Miles, zone 4 to zone 9 with enroute stop:
GRU-MUC LH F
MUC-ICN LH F
ICN-HKG OZ F (stop)
HKG-SIN SQ F
SIN-MEL SQ F

Why spend 40 000 points on an upgrade when you can spend 40 000 miles + GBP270 on an actual F award. Now I've also got my Easter holiday all worked out.

P.S. it'd have been 10k miles and GBP70 EXTRA had I ended the itinerary in HKG....go figure.

 

[sr81]

For such a short flight, its possible they "blocked" the front section from OLCI for weight and balance purposes.

Flew HBA - MEL yesterday on the very early (06:05) service. At check in was told that "due to only 28 pax on board you will be seated no further to the front than row 8. You and the other WP have row 8 to yourself."
Once on board the rest of the pax were back behind row 14 with me and the other WP in row 8. A very strange feeling, almost my own private jet.
After take off I moved up to row 4 and had quite a relaxed flight home.

This was purchased as a red-e-deal whilst on sale. On the flight MEL-HBA Friday morning got 5C with 5B empty. This was on a red-e-deal as well so I can see no problems with the new system. This might change on routes with a high WP usage.

 

[Happy Dude]

For such a short flight, its possible they "blocked" the front section from OLCI for weight and balance purposes.

I too thought that may have been the case. But the back/middle of the bus was wide open for pre-selection with only exit rows blocked off. I'm not an aero-nautical engineer, but I'd have thought that weight and balance purposes would mean both ends of the plane are important, not just the coveted front. Plus, when the plane took off the front of the bus, while not chockers, was more populated than the rear.

Fluid-Flyer appears to have the authoratative information (from T&Cs?), confirming the "theory".

Just out of interest, what is the ettiquette for moving to one of the unoccupied front centre seats, say 1B, after take-off. Is there a need to even ask 1A or 1C?

 

[NM]

I too thought that may have been the case. But the back/middle of the bus was wide open for pre-selection with only exit rows blocked off. I'm not an aero-nautical engineer, but I'd have thought that weight and balance purposes would mean both ends of the plane are important, not just the coveted front. Plus, when the plane took off the front of the bus, while not chockers, was more populated than the rear.

For flights where the take-off weight is light, they want the movable weight towards the back of the bus.

 

[Fluid-Flyer]

Fluid-Flyer appears to have the authoratative information (from T&Cs?), confirming the "theory".

I wouldn't quote me as an authority, merely offering my (JQ flying) perspective. i.e. I like your "theory", but don't necessarily subscribe to its full accuracy.

 

[Hvr]

Just out of interest, what is the ettiquette for moving to one of the unoccupied front centre seats, say 1B, after take-off. Is there a need to even ask 1A or 1C?

Tell em they're dreamin'...

I would consider it bad form if I was in either of those seats and someone self allocated themselves the middle seat.

 

[Happy Dude]

I wouldn't quote me as an authority, merely offering my (JQ flying) perspective. i.e. I like your "theory", but don't necessarily subscribe to its full accuracy.

Not my theory, Simongr's I think. And with your observations and my experience, it appears to be valid. Jetstar'll never admit that though It's just the row number we're not sure of. (Unless NM's weight/balance posit is even more correct.)

In any event, seems reasonable to me. Those who are prepared to pay more should get the pick of the seats. Seems a bit petty to put the tray down though, doesn't it? Until they put in a curtain, I figure that any unoccupied seat is up for grabs after the seatbelt sign goes off.

 

[simongr]

Not my theory, Simongr's I think.

In any event, seems reasonable to me. Those who are prepared to pay more should get the pick of the seats. Seems a bit petty to put the tray down though, doesn't it? Until they put in a curtain, I figure that any unoccupied seat is up for grabs after the seatbelt sign goes off.

OK - I have worked out what I was being blamed for. For the record this is not my theory - I had heard people saying in the "QF tests a new check in system" thread that this was driving a different seat allocation process based on fare basis. I have no theory/evidence of my own to support this.

Going back to the 1B thing - I would find that incredibly rude if someone did it. I would have no issue if I was in 1C with 1AB empty for someone to take 1A but plonkin yourself down between two other people - quite rude.

 

[kkutasi]

I'll add my anecdote to that evidence.....

Tuesday, I was booked on the cheapest fare MEL to Hobart to travel yesterday. Our company has BFOD (Jetstar "won"). When I pre-selected seats (on Tuesday) there was no access to anything in the first, say, 15 rows. Not even the centre seats. Both ways.

Entirely different story when the plane took off. Plane was reasonably full but way too many empty seats near the front of the plane to believe that they were no-shows/cancellations, etc.

I didn't realise that QF (or OW) status counted on Jetstar. QF codeshare was printed on the boarding pass though. So I would agree that lower class fares do resign you to the back of the bus.

i think its a bit of a mixed bag actually based on my experience.

12 months ago i was PS and always booked in Full Y for work purposes. Found that i couldnt get a seat past about row 8. Then my company instituted a policy that bookings must be in N only and i immediately found myself resigned to the back row... so this would seem to support 'the theory'

HOWEVER a short time later i attained SG and i am now almost always flying in the first 4 rows, even when booking in N... on a red eye DRW-SYD last month they even blocked out the whole section between J and the galley for no one but me. enabled quite a peaceful flight!

so it would seem that seating is only allocated on a fare basis for the lower status pax

 

[Fluid-Flyer]

i...always booked in Full Y for work purposes. Found that i couldnt get a seat past about row 8. Then my company instituted a policy that bookings must be in N ...

Please note that Jetstar and Qantas have completely different seating procedures... for a most extreme example - Jetstar lets its customers pre-select at time of booking and Qantas doesn't.

 

[straitman]

Please note that Jetstar and Qantas have completely different seating procedures... for a most extreme example - Jetstar lets its customers pre-select at time of booking and Qantas doesn't.

Jetstar do however restrict some areas by ticket type. ie no seats in the first few rows if you are on a cheapie ticket.

 

[Fluid-Flyer]

Jetstar do however restrict some areas by ticket type. ie no seats in the first few rows if you are on a cheapie ticket.

Indeed! As you say, "Jetflex(etc) rows" can not be pre-selected online, on JetSaver/Light!

 

[straitman]

Indeed! As you say, "Jetflex(etc) rows" can not be pre-selected online, on JetSaver/Light!

Which rows are the "Jetflex(etc) rows" :?:

 

[Fluid-Flyer]

Which rows are the "Jetflex(etc) rows" :?:

Look back a page or so in this thread! http://www.frequentflyer.com.au/com...why-immediately-after-13613-3.html#post176420

 

[drron]

Yet the last 2 occasions i have flown SYD-MCY on el cheapo fares i get row 1 at checkin.

 

[straitman]

Look back a page or so in this thread! http://www.frequentflyer.com.au/com...why-immediately-after-13613-3.html#post176420

Thanks, a simple answer would suffice.

I recently flew MEL-DRW-MEL on a super cheap ticket and selected row 5 online without restriction for the return. The rules obviously have some give in them :!: